A Troy man has been charged with 12 separate counts of identity theft against two victims.

Douglas Aaron Aldridge, 32, was arrested by Troy Police on Thursday in connection with the charges.

Under Alabama law – a person commits the crime of Identity theft if, without the   authorization, consent, or permission of the victim, and with the intent to defraud for his or her own benefit or the benefit of a third person, he or she obtains, records, or accesses identifying information that would assist in accessing financial resources, obtaining identification documents, or obtaining benefits of the victim or obtains goods or services through the use of identifying information of the victim.

All 12 counts of Identity theft that Aldridge is charged with were obtained from the stolen identity of two victims, said Troy Police Chief Randall Barr.

“The Troy Police Department strongly encourages the public to guard their personal information with great care,” Barr said. “Actively monitor credit card accounts, bank accounts and credit history for fraudulent activity and dispose of sensitive mail and other documents in a manner that protects your interest.”

Barr said the upcoming Troy Recycles Day is one way citizens can protect their sensitive information.

“There will be a vendor there that will shred sensitive documents for the general public at no charge,” Barr said.

The annual event will be held on from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 16.

Identity theft is a Class B Felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.

Aldridge was booked into the Pike County Jail on $60,000 bond.­­